Iga Swiatek plans revenge against Sakkari and talks about her connection with Ruud.

Iga Swiatek is eyeing glory at Indian Wells after a convincing victory over Kayla Day, with an impressive score of 6-0, 7-6(2). However, the young Polish player is not just celebrating this win; she also expressed her admiration for team events and publicly praised Casper Ruud for his collaboration. Swiatek’s victory seemed almost a formality, dominating her American opponent in a crushing first set. In just 27 minutes, she had already secured a “bagel.” However, Day responded and brought new energy to the second set, taking a lead of 5-1. Swiatek, determined, showed her tenacity by winning five consecutive games to take the lead, but she needed a tiebreak to secure the victory.

Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek acknowledged that her level of play fluctuated, especially in the second set. “It’s always a matter of two players competing, so it depends on both,” she stated to Tennis Channel. “I felt that I could have stayed more focused on the match. I ended up getting sidetracked and needed to return to my first set mode.” The tennis player admitted that the pressure made her lose her rhythm, but she quickly adjusted. “It took a while because I got tense after losing several points in a row. But then I realized that I could use my solidity to get back into the match and put pressure on her. By the end of the second set, everything felt much better.”

When asked how she could improve her game, Swiatek shared her thoughts. “No matter how good you are, there’s always a setback lurking. What sets the best apart is the ability to adapt.” She emphasized that during the match, she felt her legs stop moving, which led her to focus more on her movement and precision. “Quickly recognizing what’s wrong and changing it before it gets worse is one of the hardest parts of the game,” she added. Despite her victory, the six-time Grand Slam champion feels there is still room for growth. “I’m happy to have gone through this experience today, so maybe next time I’ll react faster,” she said.

Swiatek, widely regarded as one of the best players of her generation, continues to seek improvements. She has identified serving as a critical area. “Serving is always in focus. I am trying to change a few things when I’m not playing tournaments,” she revealed. “Overall, it’s about going back to hard work so that in tough moments, I can be like a wall.” Her increased confidence will be crucial as the season progresses. “In important moments, that will give me confidence. It doesn’t matter who you are — it’s very hard to beat a wall.”

The tennis player also spoke about her love for team events, especially after Poland’s victory in the United Cup. “I love these events. Honestly, I think it makes our sport much more interesting,” she said, celebrating the triumph with her team after coming close in previous editions. The connection she has developed with Casper Ruud over time, playing together in various tournaments, has been one of the highlights. “He is one of the guys who really trusts my game,” she commented, recalling fun moments on the court, such as when Ruud “stole” a ball from her at the Eisenhower Cup.

Now, Swiatek is preparing for a rematch with Maria Sakkari, following a disappointing elimination at the Qatar Open, where she lost in a thrilling turnaround. “For me, the reason for my defeat was somewhat obvious. I won’t go into details right now, but I definitely want to improve on those points,” she summarized. With renewed determination, Swiatek has committed to recovering well and making the most of her experience at Indian Wells, before returning to hard work to prepare for what promises to be a decisive match.